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In reply to the discussion: When and how did you figure out that American Conservatism was a scam? [View all]VOX
(22,976 posts)And holy shit, what an eye-opener. On the bus ride into downtown L.A.s Sports Arena, a rabidly right-wing Cuban couple bent my ears about how JFKs assassination was actually good for the country. (As Im only 15, I listen politely; today, Id rage.)
Once inside, up in the nosebleed seats, there was an idiot waving a Wallace for Attorney General! sign, and a lone elderly African American gentleman who had tears running down his cheeks, and they werent from joy. Outside, there were a number of black kids carrying professionally made signage touting Afro-Americans for Goldwater. (They werent really into it, you could tell they were paid to hold the signs for news cameras.)
I was never so relieved to get home. The whole thing was like a Fellini movie, but without the art. Southern California was actually somewhat conservative back then (the L.A. Times endorsed Republicans for decades), but what I experienced wasnt decent or respectable in the slightest.
In a way, my conservative high-school buddy did me a tremendous favor by asking me to accompany him to that rally. I saw/heard so many hard-core racists and vengeful kooks that, with a minimum of reflection, I knew with 100% certainty that I would NEVER be a Republican, and could never, ever trust a Republican. Enduring Reagan as governor only hardened my resolve: not only were Republicans pro-war, they were anti-youth to boot, and they didnt hesitate to bring the military and law enforcement into the mix to shed some blood.
Liberal Democrat for LIFE.